The title of today’s Blog has nothing to do with the condition of
the lake here. As I look out the window, there is no ice on this body
of water that in past winters has been frozen solid.

The Thin Ice that I’m writing about is the newsletter
of Responsible Policies for Animals. In their words, “RPA’s newsletter,
Thin Ice, gets its name from the ethical “thin ice” on which practices
that harm nonhuman animals stand and the literal thin ice threatening
polar bears’ and other animals’ survival.”

In previous Blogs I’ve mentioned the fact that people in poorer
countries copy the lifestyles of those living in more affluent nations.
Here is a real eye-opening statement from Thin Ice:

“More than three out of four people in China – several times the
number of people living in the U.S. – ate at a KFC last year! Americans’
way of life is the model poor people throughout the world aspire to
emulate. Our LGUs [land-grant universities] and the industries they
support gladly take advantage of the fact that nonhuman animals lack
legal rights to spread animal factories to China and other large
countries.”

“RPA's first campaign, initiated in 2003, is 10,000 Years Is Enough,
aimed at ending the teaching of animal agriculture at universities.”

“How can it be that public universities train students for industries
that cause 10 billion animals in the U.S. to suffer and die each year
and that also harm people and ecosystems?”

“Students, alumni, instructors, administrators - in agriculture or
not: Please share your experience seeing or working with animals used in
university animal-agribusiness programs. Do you think farm animals
belong at universities? Do you think universities should prepare
students for the egg, milk, and meat industries no matter how much
animals suffer in those industries? Should universities slaughter
animals and teach students to slaughter them? Do animals you have seen
at campus facilities deserve to die at small fractions of their species'
natural lifespans? Do university animal-agribusiness programs affect
people's food choices?”

“RPA's second campaign, also initiated in September, 2003, is This
Land Is Their Land, RPA's campaign to protect wildlife.”

Personally, Frank and I like the fact that RPA opposes the use of
violence and other antisocial behavior in animal advocacy.

"Joyful Curmudgeon"
An oxymoron?
No! I see all the beauty of God's creation and I'm joyful. At the
same time, I see all the suffering and corruption going on in the
world, and feel called to help expose and end it so that we may have true
peace and compassion.